While I condemn the sniper attacks on police in Dallas, I do not pray for peace or any of the other empty platitudes many will espouse in the coming days. When a group, most notably African Americans, Immigrants, and Muslims these days, is marginalized, ostracized, and feel they have no other options, then a very small subset of those groups will lash out with violence. We've seen this from Columbine to Orlando to Dallas to many other examples. I condemn this response, but preventing future attacks require us to understand it.
To prevent these senseless tragedies and escalating cycle of violence, the answer is not further escalation but an attempt to find a solution. That's why the empty expressions of sorrow from various elected officials down to the average person are meaningless. We, as a country, need to address the root causes of the forces at work that leave someone feeling they have no option but to kill. Only then can we stop, or at least slow, senseless violence.
I know this view will be unpopular as I as a Dallas resident should be mouthing my own meaningless words of sorrow. I call for action to address the root causes of this violence, so it does not happen again.
Two final thoughts. Were the sniper rifles purchased legally and what is the NRA's position there?
And this comment by Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick is a perfect example of how to escalate and insure this tragedy is not the last of its kind: he said if the violence against police doesn't stop, the police will stop working to protect citizens. http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20160708-texas-lt.-gov.-dan-patrick-calls-dallas-protesters-hypocrites-for-running-from-sniper-s-bullets.ece
This shooting is a despicable event. Empty platitudes and incendiary comments will not stop the next one. We, as a nation, need to address the root causes of the escalating violence if we want to prevent tragedies such as this.